Keyless lock



June 14, 1949. H. CORDREY ET A1. 2,473,052

' KEYLESS LOCK Filed May 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J? 7 Q V a \l 5 75 if??? C ry :4 =2 er JfiuUa-ZZ E I I INVENTOR- Patented June 14, 1949 KEYLESS LOCK Hamil Cordrey and Walter J. Duvall, Chula Vista, Calif.

Application May 24, 1948, Serial No. 28,818

8 Claims.

Our invention relates to keyless locks of the kind generally used inside a dwelling, as for instance for bathroom doors, which may be latched or secured in closed position from within by the occupant but in case of need may be opened from the outside.

Such locks are convenient for use also in rooms used by invalids or sick persons who like the feeling of privacy given by their ability to look their doors, but yet the persons caring for them have the assurance that the room can be entered should the occupant be unable to reach the door by reason of sudden illness or it is necessary to care for them and undesirable to disturb them.

The lock of our invention is particularly designed as a variant of the latch set of our invention forming the subject of co-pending application Serial No. 22,133, filed April 20, 1948, and it is accordingly a principal object of our invention to provide a lock of the kind described in which many of the component parts of the lock may be used for the latch set or for the lock of this invention, so that the production equipment may b utilized in large degree to produce either form of look.

It is an object of our invention to provide a keyless lock having inside and outside knobs by the turning of which the door may be opened from either side, and having a rotatable part fitted in the center of the inner knob effective to operate a member extending through both a spindle actuated by the inner knob and a spindle actuated by the outer knob to prevent operation of the look by the outside door knob, but provided with an inconspicuous part mounted in the center of the outer knob and engaging said member by rotation of which part the lock may be released for operation by the outer knob.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a keyless lock having a shuttle plate operated by the inner door knob and a second shuttle plate operated by the outer door knob and means mounted on the inner door knob by operation of which said second shuttle platemay be locked against movement so thatthe latch cannot be operated by the outer door knob, and to provide an inconspicuous element on the outer door knob efiective to release the second shuttle plate so that the latch may, if necessary, be operated by 1 the outer door knob.

Itis a further object of the, invention to provide a keyless lockutilizing many of the constructional elements of a latch construction of 7 our invention, thereby reducing to a minimum I the special parts required to produce the novel lock of the present invention.

Another object of the invention is to produce a lock provided with a part mounted on the inner door knob by which it may be locked from the inside under normal conditions and released if necessary by manipulation of a part mounted on the outside door knob in which practically all operating mechanism may be produced from' stamped and bent sheet metal, thus greatly reducing the cost of manufacture of the lock.

A further object of the invention is to produce a lock of the kind described in which all parts will function satisfactorily without requiring precision alignment of the component parts so that poor carpentry work or variations in thickness of doors on which the lock is to be mounted cannot cause failure of the lock to function properly,

Still further objects and features of the invention will hereinafter appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing-s, which ilustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that various changes and modifications of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as intended to be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an extended longitudinal section through the lock of the invention, drawn to a scale considerably larger than full size, some portions being broken away and others being shown in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig.1, portions being shown in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section on line 3-3 of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 44 of Fig. 1, some parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a casing containing the operative parts of the mechanism, dotted portions showing parts in adjusted positions.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of an actuating member extending from one door knob to the other.

Fig. 7 is an exploded view showing'the component parts of the look, some of the parts being shown broken through to reduce their length. Some parts are shown in vertical midsection and in elevation,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view on line 88 of Fig. '7 of a plate mounted in the outer door knob assembly.

Fig. 9 is a full elevational view on line 9-9 of Fig. 7 showing the inner end of tubular operating stems extending from the door knob assemblies into the casing.

Fig. 10 is a full elevational View on line ill-l0 of Fig. '7 of a plate fitted to one shuttle plate to prevent relative movement of two shuttle plates operated by the door knobs.

Fig. 11 is a full elevational View on line Hll of Fig. 7 of a shuttle plate operated by the outer door knob.

Fig. 12 is a full elevational view on line l2-I2 of Fig. 7 showing a partition plate mounted in the casing and to which one shuttle plate may be locked. In this View the locking shaft shown in Fig. 7 is omitted.

Fig. 13 is a full elevational view on line 13-13 of Fig. '7 showing an operating finger mounted on the locking shaft shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 14 is a full elevational View on line MM of Fig. '7 showing the shuttle member per se operated by the inner door knob.

Fig. 15 is a full elevational view on line I5--l5 of Fig. 7 showing the casing per se in which the shuttle members and locking means are mounted.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view on line Iii-16 of Fig. '7 showing a plate enclosing the inner door knob assembly.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary View on line ll-l'i of Fig. 7 showing the inside of the inside door knob assembly. Fig. 18 is a detail view showing looking means shown assembled in Fig. 11.

Much of the description of our improved lock which follows will describe parts used in our improved latch set to which reference has been made but additional parts made use of in this invention will be fully described and distinguished.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral i indicates the outer knob and the numeral 2 indicates the inner knob. The knobs are similarly formed, each comprising a. shell l0: and 2a rigidly connected to cores 3 and 4 having a squared hole therethrough which is a loose but operative fit with tubular spindles later described.

In the center of each knob is a rotatable part, in the case of the inner door knob 2 the part 5 is formed with a projecting ridge 5a which may be readily grasped between the thumb and forefinger, while in the case of the outer knob the rotatable part 6 is provided with a deep groove 6a extending diametrically across it so that it may be readily turned by the edge of a coin or the like article.

The rotatable parts 5 and 6 are otherwise identical comprising short tubular portions 512 and 6b mounting the rotatable parts in central recesses in the door knobs and held against axial movement therein in any suitable manner, and a U-shaped portion and a similarly shaped portion having one arm of each secured to and turned by the rotatable parts 5 and 6 while the other arm of each extends within the shell of the door knobs and is provided with a slot 5d, 6d extending across the longitudinal axis of the lock for a purpose later made clear.

Each door knob assembly includes the usual escutcheon plate I and 8 and ornamentalextension pieces la, 8a enclosing cores 3 and 4 between the door knobs and escutcheon plates.

The inner door knob assembly is completed by a plate 9 which fits closely in the escutcheon plate 7 and is provided with two tubular stubs 9a arranged on the diameter of plate 9 at distances from a central hole 917 in the plate. The tubular stubs 911 may be alined with threaded holes in the escutcheon plate ill to receive lock holding screws later referred to.

The outer door knob assembly is completed by a plate l0 fitting tightly in the escutcheon plate 8 and provided with two interiorly thread stems lOa riveted thereto and positioned to telescope into tubular stubs 9a. The'plate 10 also is provided with a center hole 10?) alined with hole 9b.

The described construction of the door knob assemblies is effective to firmly clamp them in position on doors of different thickness when holding machine screws, not shown, are inserted through the holes la in the inner escutcheon plate into the interiorly threadedstems Illa extending into the tubular stems 9a and drawn up tight.

The latch operating mechanism is contained in a small casing I I provided with a central hole I la in its side plate III) which is toward knob 2 and alined with the holes in plates 9 and J0, and with a slot lie between the hole Na and extending toward the end of the casing in the direction of the vertical edge of the door. It should bestated that the casing isoblong in form and arranged with its greater length perpendicular to the vertical edge of the door frame. The longer sides of the casing 5 are parallel and all edges of the side walls lie in a plane parallel to the side'plate 1 lb. A plurality of lugs Ila project from-the edges of the casing and take int slots Illc in plate In to close the casing.

The casing is divided into two chambers by a partition plate I2 extending parallelto-theplate Ill) and formed, as shown in Fig. 12, to be substantially the width, at one end, of the inside of the casing. A wide slot l2a iscut in the wide end of the partition plate IZanda lateral cut out 12b is provided in one side wall of slot l2a. A center hole I20 is provided in the partition plate, and the edges of the plate cut away at lid to provide a pair of spaces between the edges of the casing and of the partition plate at theend opposite the slot l'2a.

An outer tubular stem l3 of square cross section is located in the casing chamber toward the inside knob 2, a double operating cam 3d being carried by the stem [3 and located'so as to be movable in a plane parallel to the inner face plate lib of .the casing. The outer end of the stem l3 engages in the square opening in thescoreheld in the inner handle =2.

Between the cam 13a andplate Hb ashuttle plate 14, shown-in Fig. 14, is located, "This shuttle plate is of thewidth of the inside of the casing but of lesser length. Side lugs Maare bent up at right angles to shuttle plate to serve as guides to insure easy sliding movement of the shuttle against the side wallsof the casing. The lugs Ida are-turned inwardly-at about the center of the shuttle plate to form abutmentslflb against which act the ends of the double-cam Macarried on the stem 13. A slot is formed in the shuttle plate through which the stem l3passes, this slot being elongated to'permit the shuttle plate to be moved relatively thereto.

At the end opposite lugs Ma spacing lugs Md are struck out of the plate and bent atright angles thereto and are of the same height as lugs Ida and serve with those lugs to properly space the shuttle plate ,toinsure its free movement in the casing. At the end of the shuttle plate sides a pair of fingers Me arestruck up at right angles and projectthroughand beyond the spaces provided by cut away portions l2d of the partition plate.

A pin i5 is riveted to the shuttle plate It to extend through the slot He in side plate lib of the casing and operates a bolt or latch structure I511, a fragment of which is shown in Fig. 1.

A helical compression spring I6 is arranged between the inner wall of the casing and one of the abutments as shown in Fig. 1, the spring being located in operating position in the manner described in our application already referred to.

A second shuttle plate I! (Fig. 11) is positioned on the side of the partition plate l2 opposite to shuttle plate [4. Shuttle plate I! is pro vided with side lugs Ila providing abutments l'lb as in the case of shuttle plate l4. At the end of the plate opposite to lugs I'la spacing lugs We are bent at right angles to the plate and are of the same height as lugs I'Ia thus serving to space the shuttle plate from plate ID, for free movement. At the ends of the sides of plate I! opposite lugs Ila laterally extending lugs [1d are provided which engage under the forwardly projecting ends of fingers [4c of shuttle plate M.

An inturned flange He is provided across the end of the shuttle plate I! opposite from l-ugs He and a slot H7 is formed across the shuttle plate immediately below flange He.

The shuttle plate I! is provided with an elongated opening Hg through which passes an outer tubular stem I3 of square cross section carrying a double cam Ida at the end positioned within the casing H in position to bear against abutments lib when the stem is rotated in either direction. The stem extends outwardly through opening Hg and its outer end engages in the squared opening in core 4 of outer door knob I.

It will be seen by reference to our earlier application that all the parts described thus far and located in the casing ll may be utilized to assemble the latch described in that application; the parts to be now described are added when it is desired to provide the features of the present invention in a keyless lock.

Two small strips forming a shuttle locking slide is and a locking slide retainer 20, shown in Fig. 18, are arranged below flange He of shuttle I1 and are held in position thereagainst by bowed spring 2! the ends of which rest upon the backs of the abutments 11b. The shuttle locking slide I9 is formed with a slotted lateral extension l9a extending through slot l'lf in shuttle ll. The slot l|;f is longer than the ex tension l9a and the locking slide I9 is of less length than the distance between flanges Ila so that the extension l9a may be slid by means later described back and forth in the slot. Retainer 2c is a close fit between flanges Ila. The locking slide is formed at one end with a V shaped joggle I91) and the retainer 20 with two similar joggles 20a and 20b to hold the locking slide l9 either in locked or unlocked position under the resilient pressure of spring 2!. When assembling the parts in casing ll partition plate I2 is positioned with cut out I'Zb on the Opposite side of the casing to spring [6 and since the partition plate fits against the ends of the casing is held against movement. The movement of the locking slide in one direction engages an edge of lateral projection 19a into cut out l2b thereby preventing movement of shuttle I! by looking it to the partition plate, and movement of the locking slide in the opposite direction moves the lateral extension clear of cut out I21: and into the slot l2a of the partition plate which slot is wider than the extension thus freeing shuttle I! for to and from movement in the casing.

An operating strip 22 utilizable as a locking shaft, Fig. 6, is engaged at each end in the slots 5d and 6d of U shaped portions 50 and 6c turned by rotation of the rotatable parts 5 and 6. The strip. passes through the hollow stems l3 and l8 and all other operating parts so far described without contacting them.

To operate the locking slide an operating arm 23, Fig. 13, provided with a slot 23a closely fitting strip 22, is mounted on the strip with its end projecting through the slot in lateral extension l9a. To correctly position the arm 23 on the strip the latter is given a twist at 22a intermediate its length.

It will be observed that the efiect of turning the strip by member 5 will serve to lock the door from the inside against operation of the lock by turning the outside door knob i but that the locking slide may be released by turning rotatable member 5 fitted in the outer door knob which manner of operation accomplishes basic feature of this invention, however the occupant of the room may still operate the lock by turning the inner door knob since shuttle plate fingers Me merely move away from lateral projections lid on locked shuttle plate ii and the occupant of the room might therefore feel uncertain that he had in fact locked the door against opening by the outer door knob.

To look shuttles M and i1 together so that the inner knob will be held against turning after the member Ed has been turned to locked position, a shuttle locking spacer 2%, Fig. 10, is mounted so that upward movement of fingers Me is prevented. The member is is formed as a plate positioned against the outer face of shuttle plate ll. The member M is of a width as shown at 26a, extending from side to side of the casing and the depth of this wide portion is such as to provide shoulders 24b fitting over the projecting ends of fingers E le, thus when shuttle I1 is locked against movement shuttle i4 is also locked and neither handle can be turned until the lock is released by turning strip 22 by operating either rotatable member 5 or ii.

It is pointed out that all operating parts have an easy fit with one another so that considerable misalignment of parts is permissible, without deleterious effect on the functioning of the lock.

We claim:

1. A keyless lock having an inner door knob assembly, an outer door knob assembly, tubular cores secured to each door knob, separate operating stems engaging with said cores, a casing intermediate said door knob assemblies, a pair of shuttle plates arranged in said casing and guided for movement in parallel planes to one another, one being operated by one stem and the other shuttle plate by the other stem, the latch of the lock being directly operated by one shuttle plate and indirectly by the other shuttle plate through the first mentioned shuttle plate, locking means comprising an operable member mouned on each door knob assembly; a locking and unlocking member extending between and engaged by the operable members; a stationary plate positioned in said casing between said shuttle plates; and locking means carried by one of said shuttle plates and operated by the operable member mounted on one door knob to lock said shuttle plate carrying the locking means to the stationary plate and prevent operation of the lock by the other door knob until release enames "F7 :ofsaidi locking means =by:actuation of=-said-operable member mounted 'on'either :door knob asv sembly.

-Akeyless lock as set forth in' clairn land in *which said operablemembers are mounted in the center of each doorknob, the "member :mountedin'the inner door knob beingz actuated =-Jby-the fingers while the member-in the outer door knob cannot be. operatedwithout the use ':of an. instrument.

3. A keyless look as set forth in claim 2 having tubular operating stems and in which the locking i an'd .unlocking member is arranged to -'extend ithroug-h said tubular stems and: parts "secured to thei'operable members in each door knbb 'efiective to rotate the locking and unlocking member.

4.=A keyless' lock as set forth inclaim 2 having i tubular operating stems and in which-the locking and.unlocking member comprises a'fiat strip arranged to extend through said tublar stems, and U shaped members having one ar-m secured'to "rotatable operable members mounted -in each doorknob'andhaving a slot in the -other -arm -intowhich the end of saidstrip is fitted.

5. A keyless look as set forth in claim 1 and in whichthe locking means carried on one shuttle platecomprise a strip guided-for and restrained 'for to and from movement transversely of said plate and'having alateral extensionprojecting therefrom, a slot in the stationary plate in which said extension is positioned and in which-itis free to move with movement of the shuttle plate, -'-a out out in the side wall of the slotinto' which sa-id extension may be moved to lock the 'shuttle plate against -movement relatively to the sta- -tionary plate; and means carriedbythe locking andunlocking member eiiective to movesaid strip into locked and unlocked position.

6. 'A-keyless lock as set forth in claim 5 and inwhich the lateral'extension of said -strip'is provided with an opening, an operating arm secured on the locking and unlocking member projecting into said opening and being efiective to displace the strip when the -member is actuated.

7. A keyless lock of the kind describedhaving locking means comprising an outer'knob,"a member held against axial -movement on said knob but rotatably mounted thereon; an inner door knob, a member held against axial'movementpn said inner door knob but rotatably mounted thereon; a locking and unlocking member ex- -tending between saidrotatably mounted mem- 'bers; a'casing intermediatesaid doorknobs; a stationary plate mounted in said casing "and dividing said casing into two compartments; a

,1 firsteshuttle .3 plate having projecting abutments thereon, mounted for movement in a plane parallelito' saidestationary :plateya :stem rotated by asa i'd inner' door knoblprojecting into the casing; a'.'cam secured to the end of the stem within the casingand engageable against said abutments to =idisplace saidshuttleiplateand actuate the latch rpt saidrlock; ifingerszprojecting from said shuttle :platei past the stationary. plate; a second shuttle .spl-ate-in saidr casing in the second compartment, i'ateral extensions of said second shuttle plate sengaging belowthe fingers of the first shuttle ip'late; 1 abutments "projecting from the face of the'second-shuttle plate; a shuttle locking spacer plate having portions fitting between the projecting:fingersof the first'shuttle plate and the abutztnentsiiprojecting' from the second shuttle plate and =1eftective to cause simultaneous movement of both' sh uttle plates; a stem operable by the outside handlee'xtending into said casing; a cam carrie'd bythe'end or"- said stem within said casing an'd engageable with the abutments onsaid secon'd'ishuttle plate, the construction being such that thelook is operable by turning either door lsnobga-nd means mounted on said second shuttle iplate eifective-to lock said second shuttle plate to -said stationary plate; and an operative connection between the'locking and unlocking mem- -'-ber and said locking :means.

'=8. =A keyless lcekas set forth in claim 7 and in which saidlooking means mounted on the seoond "shuttle plate comprise: a reciprocable slide;- alaterallyprojecting flange of said shuttle plate-guiding said slide; a bowed spring having its ends supporte'd onthe back of said abutments *andefiective to resiliently hold said slide against the-fiange; alocking bar held against to and from'--move1nent on said shuttle plate and arranged between said spring and the slide, and cooperating configurations on said locking bar andslide-effective toretain the slide in locked and unlocked-position; andanarm secured to *saidlocking and unlocking. member and extending into operativeengagement with said slide.

HANCIL CORDREY.

WALTER J. DUVALL.

REI EREIIGES ClITED v Thefollowing references are 0f record in the T fileof-this patent:

"UNITED STATES PATENTS "Number Name Date 720;757 "Toth Feb. 17, 1903 1 ,902,343 Shaw -Mar. -21, 1933 1,918,719 Schlage -July-18,'1933 

